updated 03:00 pm EDT, Wed March 24, 2010

Completed release

Following up on an earlier promise, Microsoft has released a delayed beta of Messenger for Mac 8. The update at last incorporates audio and video chat into Messenger for Mac, bringing the software closer to parity with its Windows counterpart. Cross-platform chats are supported.

In order to use the beta, people must sign in with a Windows Live ID. The app is a 22MB download, and requires an Intel Mac with Mac OS X 10.5, 2GB of RAM and a 128MB video card. Microsoft notes that the finished version of Messenger for Mac 8 is only due with the release of Office for Mac 2011, expected later this year.

no surprise

More like 7 years

iChat AV beta (with audio/video conferencing) became available in the summer of 2003, and as full version later, when OS X Panther was released. A year later, it became iChat v3, which allowed up to four video (or twelve audio-only) participants. MSN, Yahoo or Google still have to demonstrate multi-party audio/video conferencing on their platforms.

you're right vasic

Vasic

I second that Vasic!
But, it's interesting that you have to have a Microsoft proprietary domain. It's too much work to mainstream it with what is already there utilizing iChat.
Like Steve Jobs said, These guys cannot copy Apple fast enough. Better yet, Redmond: Start your copying machine!